Friday, 20 June 2014

Team News: June Internationals Week 3

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Team news ahead of the final week of the June test window. Pacific Island and North American bragging rights is at stake, there is also an interesting clash between Japan and Italy. 


Photo: Come down and support our Vodafone Flying Fijian Boys
At the ANZ Stadium June 21st 2014
Main Game kicks of at 3pm! Fiji v  Samoa 
Vene: ANZ Stadium, Suva
Kickoff: 15:00 (local), 03:00 (GMT)

For Fiji:
This is a big game for Fiji against Pacific rivals Samoa. They come into this game off the back of a confidence boosting win over Tonga, and are slight favourites amongst many.

The team is bolstered by several returning names. Nemani Nagusa, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Napolioni Nalaga and Metuisela Talebula all return from the Italy game after resting during the last match, they come in ahead of Malakai Ravulo, Adriu Delai, Watisoni Votu and Timoci Nagusa. However 38 year old Sireli Bobo keeps his place after such a good 2 try performance last week, he is preferred to much younger options such as Nagusa or Waisea Nayacalevu.

Fiji have a bit of momentum and a good home crowd behind them for this game. A win here for John McKee's team could be an indication they plan on making the World Cup next year an interesting one.

Starting XV: 15 Metuisela Talebula; 14 Napolioni Nalaga, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Nemani Nadolo, 11 Sireli Bobo; 10 Jonetani Ralulu, 9 Nikola Matawalu; 1 Campese Ma'afu, 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 3 Manasa Saulo; 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Leone Nakarawa; 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 8 Nemani Nagusa.
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Leroy Atalifo; 19 Wame Lewaravu, 20 Malakai Ravulo; 21 Nemani Kenatale, 22 Isoa Donaldson, 23 Watisoni Votu.

For Samoa:
After a comfortable win over Italy at home last weekend, Samoa will test their standing as top of the 3 Pacific Islanders away to Fiji and coach Stephen Betham has made a dozen changes to his team for the trip.

Filo Paulo, Maurie Fa'asavalu and Taiasina Tuifu'a all return in place of Fa'atiga Lemalu, Ofisa Treviranus and Kane Thompson. Toulouse lock Joe Tekori comes onto the bench following games with the Barbarians and World XV. The backline stays more the same with just the injured Alapati Leiua being replaced by Johnny Leota.

This time last year Samoa were at a high after beating Scotland and Italy reasonably comfortably away in South Africa, but fans have been quick to criticise since as results have dipped and injuries increased. They will obviously be looking to target the weak Fijian scrum after destroying Italy last week, an away win in a difficult place woul d

Starting XV: 15 Fa'atoina Autagavaia; 14 Fautua Otto, 13 George Pisi, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 David Lemi (c); 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Logovi'i Mulipola, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 3 James Johnston; 4 Filo Paulo, 5 Daniel Leo; 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 7 Jack Lam, 8 Taiasina Tuifu'a.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Cencus Johnston; 19 Piula Fa'asalele, 20 Joe Tekori; 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Patrick Fa'apale, 23 Andy Tuilagi.



Embedded image permalink Japan v Italy Italy
Vene: Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo
Kickoff: 14:00 (local time), 07:00 (Italy), 05:00 (GMT)
Odds: Japan (1.62), Italy (3), Handicap (6 pts)

For Japan:
After the win in the USA Eddie Jones has opted to keep his side unchanged as Japan aim to finish their June internationals undefeated, which would be a great achievement for the Cherry Blossoms if they could pull it off.

This game is a very interesting one for the Japanese and it will be a big test up against a Tier 1 nation. The improvements of the scrum will now be seen against a decent scrum after dominating in the past 3 games. How Kenki Fukuoka, backed to start after a nightmare return against the USA, can regather himself in this game will also be interesting.

With Japan bringing some momentum into this game whereas their opponents have struggled, this in theory seem a good chance for an upset. However never underestimate that Japan's habit for underperforming against the bigger name sides, a lot of this will come down to how much they believe in themselves.

Starting XV: 15 Ayumu Goromaru14 Akihito Yamada13 Male Sa'u12 Yu Tamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka; 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka; 1 Masataka Mikami, 2 Shota Horie, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama; 4 Shoji Ito, 5 Luke Thompson; 6 Justin Ives, 7 Michael Leitch (c), 8 Ryu Holani.
Replacements: 16 Hisateru Hirashima, 17 Takeshi Kizu, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita; 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Hitoshi Ono, 21 Hendrik Tui; 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Toshiaki Hirose.

For Italy:
Following several changes after the defeat to Fiji, Jacques Brunel has only tweaked his side a little from the 15-0 defeat in Apia against Samoa.

In the backline all of Leonardo Sarto, Michele Campagnaro and Luciano Orquera return from the Fiji game in the place of Angelo Esposito, Gonzalo García and Tommaso Allan. In the pack there is just one change with Italy's most capped player of all time Marco Bortolami coming back in to replace George Biagi.

A loss here would see Italy leave their June tour winless, and bring their total over the past year to just 1 win in 14 games leaving coach Jacques Brunel under pressure.

Starting XV: 15 Luke McLean14 Leonardo Sarto13 Michele Campagnaro12 Andrea Masi11 Giovanbattista Venditti10 Luciano Orquera9 Tito Tebaldi1 Alberto de Marchi, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini3 Lorenzo Cittadini4 Quintin Geldenhuys (c)5 Marco Bortolami; Joshua Furno, 7 Mauro Bergamasco8 Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici17 Matías Aguëro18 Dario Chistolini19 George Biagi20 Manoa Vosawai; 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Tommaso Iannone.



 USA v Canada 
Vene: Bonney Field, Sacramento, California
Kickoff: 15:00 (local time), 22:00 (GMT)

For USA:
After a lame defeat to Scotland and a scoreline against Japan that flattered the side, under pressure coach Mike Tolkin has opted to add some fresh faces as the USA seek to prevent consecutive winless June international windows.

In the pack Cam Dolan is out injured and replaced by energetic flanker Danny Barrett who made a decent start to his international career in his first start last week and moves to number 8 this week. Scott LaValla shifts to the flanker position in place of Barrett and Hayden Smith returns to the side to start at lock.

The backs include new wing Brett Thompson on debut, who will be one of the biggest wingers the Eagles have fielded at 6'4". Also there is a return for Thretton Palamo, who makes his first appearance for the side in his hometown of Sacramento following 6 years away playing American Football.

This is a big game for the USA, their performances so far this year have been sub par and at the very least they need to show something to their home fans to bring some on field positives into November. If another drab performance is produced, then calls for a new coaching setup will grow louder.

Starting XV: 15 Chris Wyles; 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Brett Thompson10 Shalom Suniula, 9 Mike Petri; 1 Nick Wallace, 2 Phil Thiel, 3 Olive Kilifi; 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Hayden Smith; 6 Todd Clever (c), 7 Scott LaValla, 8 Danny Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Tom Coolican17 Eric Fry, 18 Titi Lamositele; 19 Lou Stanfill, 20 Kyle Sumsion; 21 Folau Niua, 22 Chad London, 23 Luke Hume.

For Canada:
After two gutting losses for Canada they will be looking for a consolation win over their old North American rivals who they have come to boss over recent encounters.

The team is largely the same other than a few tweaks here and there. There are two fresh props in Andrew Tiedemann and youngster Jake Ilnicki who makes his first start for the national team. In the backline, Connor Braid replaces Nick Blevins at 12 meaning in just 7 starts for his country, Braid has now had starts in 4 different positions in the backline. The other change is for DTH van der Merwe to return to the starting lineup for the first time since last August ahead of Taylor Paris who suffered a concussion last week.

The USA have been on putrid form in 2014 and Canada will be fancying their chances of extending their unbeaten record against the Eagles to 8 straight matches.

Starting XV: 15 James Pritchard; 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Connor Braid, 11 DTH van der Merwe; 10 Harry Jones, 9 Phil Mack; 1 Andrew Tiedemann, 2 Aaron Carpenter, 3 Jake Ilnicki; 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Tyler Hotson; 6 Jebb Sinclair, 7 John Moonlight, 8 Tyler Ardron (c)
Replacements: 16 Hubert Buydens17 Ray Barkwill, 18 Jason Marshall; 19 Jon Phelan, 20 Kyle Gilmour; 21 Gordon McRorie, 22 Nathan Hirayama, 23 Nick Blevins.

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